One-stop date night

Thursday

Mar 31, 2011 at 2:00 AM

We have long enjoyed Cinemagic Theater in Saco for its large screens and comfortable seating. The experience is close to the velvet-cushioned, fully enveloping experience I had as child, viewing films at my hometown theater, the Senator, with its 75-foot screen and surround sound.

Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons

We have long enjoyed Cinemagic Theater in Saco for its large screens and comfortable seating. The experience is close to the velvet-cushioned, fully enveloping experience I had as child, viewing films at my hometown theater, the Senator, with its 75-foot screen and surround sound.

Cinemagic was never a place, however, where I went for food other than Swedish Fish.

This past week, however, having missed seeing the first run of "The King's Speech," my husband Mark and I ventured to the restaurant called Previews, connected to the front of the theater.

Previews is a clean and sharp-looking pub, appointed with requisite movie décor and flat-screen televisions airing both sports games and looping reels of trailers.

A large poster at the entrance advertises the "Dinner and a Movie Package for $44.95." For that price, you get two movie vouchers, an appetizer, two entrees, soft drinks and coffee.

We chose to sit at the bar and were greeted by a warm smile and an extensive drink menu. We opened the menu and looked up at the mirrored bar that showcased more than 50 varieties of liquor — and at least 10 flavored vodkas. The drink menu is punctuated with names such as "The Grape Crush," which tastes like an adult version of its namesake soda pop, and the "Mad Hattah," a blend of fruit juices and rum. The sweet concoctions were a perfect mood lightener and a great conversation point.

Adam Booker, our bartender, has been with Previews since its inception over two years ago.

"People say how happily surprised they are all the time," he said. "I think they think it will be concession food because of the theater, but it is not. We make a lot of our food from scratch and it's really good."

We, too, felt that pleasant surprise as we were presented with massive fresh salads, mine topped with chicken, walnuts, cranberries and blue cheese, and Mark's with red onion and steak tips.

Each of the portions would have fed two people, adding to our feelings of being warmly and generously served.

Booker, who has created many of the drinks on the menu, explained how Previews' kitchen staff cooks to order, and how dishes are created to get out to patrons quickly.

Booker's warm affable nature has gained him a good reputation with theater patrons, and we left feeling happy to return for more shows and more tasty food.

Kristin Fuhrmann Simmons is a food lover and the owner and baker at kristin f. simmons, custom cakes. She may be reached at kafcooks@gmail.com.

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